Adaptable tree stand for hunting with bow and arrows and with rifle

ABSTRACT

A tree stand with a foot climber section having tree grippers, and a foot rest; a seat climber section with a rear end and a front end, tree grippers, tubular side members with front and rear ends, and inserts slidably in the side members between extended and retracted positions; and a seat releasibly attachable to the inserts when the inserts are in the extended position, and releasibly attachable to the seat climber tubular side members when the inserts are in the retracted position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a tree stand with a seat that is adjustable inlocation to make the tree stand adaptable for hunting with bow andarrows or a rifle by advantageously and easily changing the location ofthe seat while hunting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tree stands that are adaptable for hunting with bow and arrows areknown. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,104 to Amacker, and U.S.Pat. No. 4,236,602 to Leggett.

Amacker provides a seating section with a cross member on the treestand. The cross member can be removed and replaced in a verticalorientation at the side of the tree stand to provide space for huntingwith bow and arrows.

Leggett provides a pivotal seat that can be moved to a vertical positionat the front of the tree stand to provide space for hunting with bow andarrows.

Neither Amacker or Leggett disclose or suggest applicant's concept ofproviding a seat that can be positioned on a tree stand for use whilehunting with a rifle and easily repositioned while the tree stand is inuse to provide seating and space for hunting with bow and arrows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The tree stand has a foot climber and a seat climber that are to be usedby a hunter in a conventional manner to climb a tree. The seat climberhas a removable seat and tubular sleeves with retractable inserts thatcan be retracted within their sleeves and the seat positioned on thesleeves in close proximity to the tree to obtain unobstructed space andview for an archer or bow hunter. The retractable inserts can beextended and the seat repositioned on the inserts in outwardly spacedrelation to the tree, so the hunter faces the tree when seated. The seatis positioned closer to the tree for an archer, who can sit with hisback to the tree.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tree stand with the foot climber andthe seat climber encircling a tree shown in phantom lines with the seatsupported on retractable inserts in their extended position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but with parts brokenaway and schematically showing the seat positioned for attachment to theretractable inserts;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along theline 3—3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but showingin solid lines one of the retractable inserts in its retracted positionand showing the same insert in phantom lines in its extended position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bow holder, removed from the treestand;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tree stand adapted for the use by anarcher with the retractable inserts in their retracted position and theseat supported nearer the tree on the sleeves for the inserts to provideunobstructed space and vision for an archer, shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, illustrating a bowsupported in the bow holder attached to one of the sleeves for theretractable inserts; and

FIG. 8 is a frontal view, illustrating elastic loops stretched fromrings depending from the metal frame to lugs extending transversely fromthe metal frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the tree stand is broadlyindicated at 10 in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6. The tree stand 10 comprises a footclimber, broadly indicated at 11, and a seat climber, broadly indicatedat 12.

The Foot Climber

The foot climber 11 comprises a generally rectangular base frame 13 withtubular frame members 14 and 15 at the sides, welded to a tubular framemember 16 at the front and to a tubular frame member 17 at the rear. Aplurality of tubular reinforcing bars 20 extend transversely between theside frame members 14 and 15.

The legs 21 of a generally V-shaped gripper 22 are slidably andremovably received in angularly disposed anchor sleeves 23 which are theforward end portions of a generally U-shaped support frame 24. The legs21 may be adjusted to desired lengths by positioning of bolts 29 inselected bores in the anchor sleeves 23 in registry with bores in thelegs 21. The support frame 24 is welded to the side frame members 14 and15 in surrounding relation to the rear portion of the base frame 13 andin rearwardly spaced relation to the rear frame member 17 of the baseframe 13. A pair of upright supports 27 extend upwardly from the sides14 and 15 of the base frame 13 to the angularly disposed forward endportions 23 of the support frame 24.

A mat 25 of expanded metal overlies and is fixed to the base frame 13and rear portion of the support frame 24. An elastic strap 26 overliesthe mat 25 and one of the reinforcing bars 20 to accommodate a user'sfeet when climbing. The elastic strap 26 is fastened at its ends to theside frame members 14 and 15 and at its mid-portion to the underlyingreinforcing bar 20.

The Seat Climber

The seat climber 12 comprises a U-shaped metal frame comprising with afront frame member 32 and side frame members 33 and 34 extendingrearwardly from the front frame member 32. Anchor sleeves 35 and 36extend forwardly at an angle from the rear portions of the side framemembers 33 and 34. The legs 37 and 38 of a second gripper 40 areslidably and releasably received in the anchor sleeves 35 and 36, andmay be adjusted to desired lengths by positioning of bolts 39 inselected bores in the anchor sleeves 35, 36 in registry with bores inthe legs 37, 38.

The anchor sleeves 35 and 36 are supported by uprights 41 and 42extending from the juncture of the front frame member 32 with the sideframe members 33, 34. A V-shaped gripping plate 43 extends forwardlyfrom the front frame member 32 and is anchored at its ends with thefront ends of side frame members 33 and 34.

The foot climber 11 and the seat climber 12 are manipulable by a hunterin a known manner to climb a tree.

The frame members 33 and 34 function as, and are hereinafter referred toas, tubular sleeves 33 and 34 for retractable inserts 44 and 45 thatslide easily into the open rear ends of tubular sleeves 33 and 34. Asseen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the insert 44 has laterally extending threadedbores 44A and 44B positioned for alignment with unthreaded bores 33A and33B that extend transversely through the sides of the tubular sleeve 33.Bore 33A in the tubular sleeve 33 is positioned to align with thethreaded bore 44A in the insert 44 when the insert 44 is fully retractedin the tubular sleeve 33 (FIG. 4). A bolt 46 is threaded in the bore 44Ato hold the retractable insert 44 in its retracted position when theinsert 44 is positioned with its threaded bore 44A in registry with theunthreaded bore 33A in the tubular sleeve 33, as in FIG. 4. The bolt 46is threaded in the bore 44B to hold the retractable insert in itsextended position when the insert 44 is positioned with its threadedbore 44B in registry with the unthreaded bore 33B in the tubular sleeve33, as in FIG. 3.

The tubular sleeve 34 has corresponding bores 34A, 34B and theretractable insert 45 has corresponding threaded bores 44A, 44B andbolts 46.

The threaded bolts 46 are each equipped with a handle 48 that isfastened by a length of plastic line 49 to respective tubular sleeves33, 34.

A seat, broadly indicated at 50, is supported on the inserts 44, 45 whenthe inserts are in their fully extended position, as in FIGS. 2 and 3.The seat 50 comprises a tubular rectangular metal frame 51 to which acushion 52 is permanently attached. The seat frame 51 is removablyattached to the retractable inserts 44, 45 when the inserts 44, 45 arein their extended position (FIG. 1), and the seat frame 51 is removablyattached to the tubular sleeves 33 and 34 when the inserts 44, 45 are intheir retracted position (FIG. 6).

The apparatus for selectively attaching the seat frame 51 to either thetubular sleeves 33, 34 or the retractable inserts 44, 45 comprisesanchor rings 53 (FIG. 3) that depend from the seat frame 51 near thetubular sleeves 33, 34. The rings 53 support elastic loops 55 that areselectively engageable with lugs 57 projecting laterally from the sidesof the seat frame 51 (FIG. 3).

The apparatus for releasably attaching the seat frame also includesflanged caps 60 that extend upwardly from the free ends of theretractable inserts 44, 45. The rear wall of the frame 51 has slots 62and 63 (FIG. 2) to receive flanges 64 that extend forwardly from thecaps 60 to engage the slots 62, 63 in the rear wall of the seat frame 51whether the seat 50 is positioned for use on the tubular sleeves 33, 34or positioned for use on the extended insets 44, 45.

In use, if the seat 50 is positioned on the tubular sleeves 33, 34, asin FIG. 6, the elastic loops 55 are stretched from their anchor rings 53and wrapped around the tubular sleeves 33, 34 and then hooked on thelugs 57. If the seat 50 is positioned on the extended inserts 44, 45,the elastic loops 55 are stretched from their anchor rings 53 andwrapped around the extended inserts 44, 45 and then hooked on the lugs57.

A bow holder 70 (FIG. 5) is attached to the free end portion of thetubular sleeve 33. The bow holder 70 is held in place by its sleeve 71that fits over the tubular sleeve 33. A pair of fingers 72 extend inhorizontally spaced relation to each other from the sleeve 71 to receiveand support a hunter's bow, as shown in FIG. 7.

There is thus provided a tree stand with a seat that can be adjustedduring use of the tree stand to provide seating and space for huntingwith bow and arrow or seating for hunting with a rifle. The seat isavailable for use in either position.

Although specific terms have been used in describing the invention, theyhave been used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for thepurpose of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in thefollowing claims.

I claim:
 1. A tree stand comprising: a) a foot climber section with arear end and a front end, foot climber side members with front and rearends, tree grippers, a frame, and a foot rest extending between saidmembers; b) a seat climber section with a rear end and a front end, treegrippers, seat climber tubular side members with front and rear endsforming a first seat support, and inserts slidably positioned in saidseat climber tubular side members, said inserts having extended andretracted positions, said inserts forming a second seat support when inthe extended position; and c) a removable seat releasibly attachable atsaid second seat support to said inserts when said inserts are in theextended position, and releasibly attachable at said first seat supportto said seat climber tubular side members when said inserts are in theretracted position.
 2. The tree stand of claim 1, wherein said footclimber further includes a foot strap extending between said sidemembers.
 3. The tree stand of claim 1, wherein said foot climber sectionincludes a first foot climber tree gripper extending between the rearends of said side members, and a second foot climber tree gripperattached to said side members by legs extending rearwardly and upwardlyfrom said frame to said second foot climber tree gripper, said secondfoot climber tree gripper being to the rear of said first foot climbertree gripper.
 4. The tree stand of claim 1, wherein said seat climbersection includes a first seat climber tree gripper extending between therear ends of said side members, and a second seat climber tree gripperattached to said side members by legs extending rearwardly and upwardlyfrom said frame to said second seat climber tree gripper, said secondseat climber tree gripper being to the rear of said first seat climbertree gripper.
 5. The tree stand of claim 1, wherein said seat climbersection further includes attachment means to secure said seat to saidinserts and said tubular side-members.
 6. The tree stand of claim 1,further including a sleeve extendable over one of said tubular sidemembers, and a pair of parallel bow support fingers extending outwardlyfrom said sleeve.
 7. A tree stand comprising: a) a foot climber sectionwith a rear end and a front end, foot climber side members with frontand rear ends, a frame, a V-shaped foot climber tree gripper extendingbetween the rear ends of said foot climber side members, and a U-shapedfoot climber tree gripper attached to said foot climber side members bylegs extending rearwardly and upwardly from said frame to said U-shapedfoot climber tree gripper, said U-shaped foot climber tree gripper beingto the rear of said V-shaped foot climber tree gripper, and a foot restextending between said members; b) a seat climber section with a rearend and a front end, seat climber tubular side members with front andrear ends forming a first seat support, a V-shaped seat climber treegripper extending between the rear ends of said seat climber tubularside members, and a U-shaped seat climber tree gripper attached to saidseat climber tubular side members by legs extending rearwardly andupwardly from said frame to said U-shaped seat climber tree gripperbeing to the rear of said V-shaped seat climber tree gripper, andinserts slidably positioned in said seat climber tubular side members,said inserts having extended and retracted positions, said insertsforming a second seat support when in the extended position; and c) aremovable seat releasibly attachable at said second seat support to saidinserts when said inserts are in the extended position, and releasiblyattachable at said first seat support to said seat climber tubular sidemembers when said inserts are in the retracted position.
 8. The treestand of claim 7, wherein said foot climber further includes a footstrap extending between said side members.
 9. The tree stand of claim 7,wherein said seat climber section further includes attachment means tosecure said seat to said inserts and said tubular side members.
 10. Thetree stand of claim 7, including a sleeve extendable over one of saidtubular side member, and a pair of parallel bow support fingersextending outwardly from said sleeve.
 11. The tree stand of claim 7,wherein said inserts include front ends having rearwardly extendingflanges, and said seat includes a frame having a slotted front side,said flanges being insertable into said slotted front side when saidseat is mounted on said inserts.